Dr. Jeffrey Barnes, also known as Dr. Disneyland, delves into the enchanting history and life lessons of Walt Disney. Dr. Barnes, an author and professor, shares his unique experiences growing up as a military child, his transformative journey to Disneyland and his eventual deep dive into Walt Disney’s remarkable story of resilience and creativity.
Author of The Wisdom of Walt and Life Lessons from Walt, Dr. Barnes muses on the evolution of Disney parks, the impact of storytelling and the current business challenges and strategies of the Disney brand.
He is blunt in his assessment of the Jimmy Kimmel incident with ABC and Disney+ and doesn’t shy away from discussing Disney’s corporate leadership and post-pandemic pricing strategies. “Not consumer-friendly, not family-friendly,” he says.
Dr. Barnes also shares personal anecdotes and powerful insights on creativity, overcoming obstacles and the enduring magic of Disney that continues to inspire generations. Tune in to explore the rich tapestry of Disney’s legacy and how its lessons can be applied in everyday life.
Books by Dr. Jeffrey Barnes
The Wisdom of Walt
Life Lessons from Walt
Contact Jeff Barnes and find links to buy his books at his website: https://thewisdomofwalt.com
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Disneyland
04:02 Memorable Family Vacations – The Land of Oz and Disney World
05:21 Loving Disney World and the Comedown on First Visit to Disneyland
07:29 Walt’s Story
10:37 Reinterpreting Disney World as an Adult
14:20 Bucket List Disney Parks Around the World
14:57 How Jeff Likes to Travel
16:29 How did the book come to be?
18:59 Diagnosed with life-threatening brain tumor
21:37 Second Brain Tumor
22:11 Is Disney for the Wealthy Only?
24:52 Post-Pandemic Pricing at Disney
25:40 Disney Corporate Leadership
27:38 Disney, Bob Iger and Jimmy Kimmel
31:11 Disney as Reflection of American Society Through the Decades
38:53 Roy Disney and Financial Restraints
41:32 Advice for Visiting Disney the First Time
43:49 How the Magic Is Made
45:27 Leadership Lessons from Walt
47:27 Consulting at Disney
Places Mentioned
Disneyland
Disney World
Storybook Mansion
Riverside, California
Florida Panhandle
Orlando, Florida
Boone, North Carolina
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Griffith Park
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disney Seas
Disneyland Paris
Euro Disney
Glendale
Fort Huachuca
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
St. Petersburg, Florida
Marceline, Missouri
CREDITS
Host and creator: Christi Cassidy
Contact: christi@movingalongpodcast.com
Artwork by Phyllis Busell
Music by Eve’s Blue.
Post-production help from Auphonic.com.
Show notes written with assistance from Descript and Claude.ai.
LINKS:
More information and to listen to past episodes: https://movingalongpodcast.com
Past episodes are here too: https://moving-along.simplecast.com/
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